V^OL. IV. No. 92. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



329 



Cultivated Sorghums. 



In reference to species of SoiyJium usually 

 cultivated in the West Indies, it has been suggested to 

 adopt the following names in order to secure uniformity 

 of nomenclature, viz. : — 



Guinea Corn {Andn <porjon Sorghum, var. vul- 

 garis). 



Imphee or Sugar Sorghum {Andropogon Sorg- 

 hum, var. sace}iMri(tus). 



Broom Corn {Amlropogon Sorghum, var. tcehni- 

 cu^). 



Banana Fibre. 



In order to ascertain whether the fibre contained 

 in the stem of the bananas grown at Barbados possesses 

 a commercial value, the luiperial Commissioner of 

 Agriculture is prepared to offer prizes at the Show, to 

 be held at Harrison College in December next, for the 

 best samples of clean, dry banana fibre, not less than 

 3 feet in length and not less than 10 lb. in weight. 

 Each sample is to be accompanied by particulars of the 

 cost per cwt. of production and delivery in Bridgetown. 

 Many attempts have been made in Jamaica and 

 elsewhere to utilize the fibre contained in the banana 

 plant, but so far without success. As the plant grown 

 at Barbados {2[usa CavemUshll) differs froni that 

 grown at Jamaica, it is regarded as worth while to 

 make a special investigation into its merits and submit 

 specimens to well-known firms in the United States 

 and Europe for valuation and report. 



At first the specimens will have to be prepared by 

 hand, but later, if there are reasonable prospects of 

 a good market for the fibre, it is possible that a simple 

 and portable machine may be devised for the purpose. 

 It is suggested that the fibre be extracted only 

 from stems that have already borne fruit and are 

 therefore of no value except to be cut up and turned 

 into manure. 



To prepare the fibre a portion of what is usually 

 called the stem (made up of leaf-sheaths) should be 

 divided lengthways into convenient narrow strips, 

 about 3 feet long. The outer and coarser layers with 

 stained fibres should be rejected. 



Each of the narrow strips should first of all be 

 beaten with a mallet or round club until the fibres are 

 rendered soft and pliable. They should then be scrap- 

 ed with a blunt knife or strip of bamboo and washed 

 until all the pulp is removed and there is nothing left 

 but white, glistening fibres. After being dried in the 

 sun each bundle of fibres should be arranged length- 

 ways, one above another, so as to make a large, neat 

 bundle of straight fibres, all of the same length. 

 -^ 



Agriculture in Carriacou. 



In the course of a couple of interesting articles in 

 the Grenada Chronicle on a visit to Carriacou, 

 Mr. W. Malins Smith states that the future prosperity 

 of this dependency is now assured. Speaking of the 

 character of the soil, he mentions the case of a field of 

 common cotton, growing on nntilled soil with fiiirly 

 vigorous growth. Judging from the appearance of the 

 fruit trees of the island, the depth of soil appears to be 



very satisfactory. In most places the soil is black, 

 medium loam of good mechanical condition. 



The dryness of the soil is to be attributed, not to 

 an insufficient rainfiiU, but to causes, such as the 

 absence of wind-breaks and lack of tillage, which may 

 be easily controlled by the people. 



Carriacou is wonderfully free from insect pests: 

 scale insects and blight are not to be seen, nor are the 

 cotton fields troubled by the cotton worm or other 

 pests. 



Corn and cotton are the staple agricultural 

 products. Sea Island cotton fiourishes with little care 

 beyond tillage, and there is no doubt that the people 

 would benefit by replacing their Marie Galante cotton 

 with the long-staple Sea Island. One grower has 

 already planted 100 acres with it. 



There are signs that some of the peasants are 

 realizing that other crops than corn and cotton can be 

 grown in Carriacou. There are small patches of 

 bearing cacao to the cultivation of which several 

 valleys on the leeward side are well suited. Cocoa-nuts 

 and the Chinese banana are also being planted. 



The island has always been noted for its live 

 .stock. Some of the larger proprietors have big flocks 

 of sheep, the manure of which, sold to the Grenada 

 cacao planters, is a considerable source of revenue. 



Castor Oil Industry. 



In an article in the Ycarhook of the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture for 190-i it is stated that 

 in the United States the use of this oil is on a small 

 scale compared with the increased consumption of other 

 expressed oils, such as cotton seed and linseed. 



The functions which castor oil performs in industry 

 and the arts are of great economic importance. 

 Within comparatively recent years an extensive 

 demand has sprung up for it in connexion with dyeing 

 and printing cotton goods, as in certain processes it 

 enjoys a practical monopoly. Probably the next most 

 important channel of consumption is in the drug trade, 

 although it no longer commands the same universal 

 demand as a 'homo remedy.' Castor oil has also an 

 extensive use for illuminating and lubricating purposes 

 in some countries. It is adapted to use in the dressing 

 of leathers, while it is also used for making ' sticky fly- 

 paper' and the so-called glycerine soap. 



The equipment of a castor oil factory is almost 

 identical with that of a cotton seed meal factory. Two 

 grades of oil are placed on the market. The No. 1 

 grade commands the highest price and enters into 

 medicinal uses, the other supplies various industrial 

 needs. The industry yields also a by-product of 

 commercial value. This is the oil cake, or 'castor 

 pomace ' as it is called. Containing, as it does, the 

 whole of the poisonous properties of the castor bean, 

 this by-product cannot be used as a food-stuff. It is, 

 however, well adapted to n:ianurial uses, being especially 

 rich in nitrogen. 



Beans of good quality contain about -15 per cent, 

 of oil, but 32 per cent, is an average amount. The 

 rather high proportion of 13 per cent, remains after 

 expression. 



